SpEd-Paras

Key Concerns

- Classroom Instability & Daily IEP/504 Violations: Subcontracting has caused recurring absences and tardiness, leaving classrooms understaffed. These persistent gaps violate mandated IEP/504 plans,breaching New Jersey Special Education Code (N.J.A.C. 6A:14) and denying students a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under federal law.

- Student Impact and Violation of IDEA/FAPE: Paraprofessionals support qualified students in the Least Restrictive Environment across general education, inclusion, and self-contained settings. Frequent turnover disrupts daily routines and prevents the reliable delivery of required IEP/504 supports, violating N.J.A.C. 6A:14 and IDEA.

- Whole-School & Classroom Safety Impact: Unstaffed support roles pull teacher focus, destabilize entire classrooms, and compromise safety across whole buildings. Inconsistent supervision has led to severe safety concerns.

- Vendor & Labor Liabilities: Subcontracting models relying on low pay and worker misclassification exploit staff (predominantly Black and Brown women), drive high turnover, and expose SOMSD to legal liabilities.

- Lack of Operational Oversight: Central administration has failed to observe classroom conditions firsthand for full-day periods or implement transparent policies, substitute coverage, and proper safety/elopement training for third-party vendor staff.

- False Fiscal Economy: Short-term vendor savings defeat financial prudence by triggering far higher long-term institutional liabilities in legal compliance, administrative due process under N.J.A.C. 6A:14, formal litigation, and Out-of-District (OOD) placements.

Key Recommended Actions

We respectfully urge Superintendent Bing, Assistant Superintendent Gesumaria, and the Board of Education to collaborate with our community on five concrete steps:

1. Direct & Transparent District-Wide Communication: Replace buried web links with direct, comprehensive updates regarding special education staffing and challenges to the entire school community, bringing the same honesty used for other district operational challenges.

2. Guarantee Classroom Safety & Substitute Coverage: Provide central administrative support and establish a reliable pool of substitute paraprofessionals so building staff are not left to manage shortfalls alone.

3. Prioritize Classroom Stability & Governance: Re-evaluate central administrative cost-cutting measures to ensure budgetary adjustments do not compromise classroom safety, IEP compliance, teacher support, or student mental health.

4.Ensure Ethical Staffing & Explore In-House Models: Audit third-party vendors for strict compliance with NJ labor standards, guarantee fair wages and benefits, and actively evaluate long-term paths toward bringing paraprofessionals back in-house in partnership with SOMEA.

5. Integrate Special Education into DEI: Formally clarify where special education families and neurodiverse students fit under the district’s DEI umbrella and budget priorities with total transparency.

Take Action: Sign, Send & Speak Up

Signing this petition is only the first step. True accountability requires district leadership to hear directly from the families and educators living these classroom realities every day.

Petition LINK

September Calendar

September 2026

Join the PTA

Join the PTA Flyer

Clinton Elementary Scholastic Book Fair

📚🐻

Get ready, Bears! The Scholastic Book Fair is back, and we are excited for a week filled with reading, discovery, and school spirit! The Book Fair is a wonderful tradition that inspires a lifelong love of reading while directly supporting our students, classrooms, and school library.

Every Bear. Every Class. Every Reader.

Our mission for the Book Fair is simple: Every Bear. Every Class. Every Reader.

We want to make sure that all 500 Clinton students have the opportunity to select and take home a brand-new book of their choice during their in-school shopping days (September 24, 25, and 28).

To make this happen, our fundraising goal this year is $8,000.

100% of the funds raised go directly to our students and school:

The PTA does not keep any of these funds.
Every dollar goes straight toward purchasing student books, expanding our Clinton Elementary library collection, and fulfilling classroom wishlists for our wonderful teachers.

We are asking each Clinton family to contribute $15—or whatever amount works best for your family. Whether you give $5, $15, $25, or more, every single contribution helps us put books into the hands of Clinton kids!

👉 Click Here to Donate to the School-Wide Book Fund

(URL: https://tinyurl.com/ClintonBookFair26)

Family Shopping Hours 🛒

Family Shopping gives parents, caregivers, and students the chance to explore the Book Fair together! It’s a great opportunity to pick out extra books for your Clinton kiddo, support teacher wishlists, or browse for yourself.

Kickoff Night: Tuesday, September 22, during Back to School Night (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM)
After-School Family Shopping:

September 23 – September 25 (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
September 28 – October 1 (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM)

Volunteers Needed! 🤝

We need your help to bring the Book Fair to life! Parent and caregiver volunteers are essential to help our Bears browse, select books, and navigate checkout during their class shopping times.

No prior experience is necessary—just bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to lend a hand!

👉 Click Here to Sign Up to Volunteer (https://tinyurl.com/ClintonBookFairVolunteers26)